HUDSON COUNTY – A task force arrested more than 27 people in a series of raids across Hudson County on May 29 as part of the “Operation Safer Summer” program. Officers from the Hudson County Sheriff’s Department, led by Sheriff Frank Schillari. conducted a warrant sweep for subjected wanted for felony crimes including drug possession and sexual assault.

“This warrant sweep is the result of a lengthy investigation into criminal activity throughout Hudson County and the efforts today by all the officers assigned to this multi-agency round-up were incredible,” said “Today’s arrests speak volumes about the dedication of our officers to taking dangerous criminals off the streets and preserving the safety of our citizens.”

Hudson County Sheriffs were joined by officers from the FBI, DEA, US Marshals, Jersey City Police Department, New Jersey State Parole and Homeland Security.

Arrests took place in Bayonne, Jersey City, West New York, and Hoboken and covered a range of charges from sexual assault to possession of drugs and fire arms.

Sheriff’s officers altered local police in each town before making the raids, said Bayonne Police Chief Ralph Scianni. “But this was their operation.”

“This is the second year the sheriff’s department has been involved in this,” said Sheriff Department spokesman Michael Makarski. “These are people who were not accessible other times so the officers went to places where they lived or worked to apprehend them.”

He said there were additional arrests made later in the day. -- By Al Sullivan